Method and apparatus to provide sound on a remote console

Abstract

A technique is provided for emulating sound of a remote computer system, such as a server, on another computer system interfacing with the remote computer system via a network. The technique emulates sound of the remote computer system by using a standard audio format or by copying audio settings of the remote computer system to the interfacing computer system. For example, the input/output addresses, sound tables, and register settings of audio circuitry for the remote computer system may be detected, copied, transferred, and used by audio circuitry for the interfacing computer system.

1. A method for providing sound between a remote computer system and an interfacing computer system, comprising:
 audibly interfacing with a computer management module disposed on the remote computer system from the interfacing computer system via a network comprising:
 detecting audio settings of the remote computer system; 
 transmitting the audio settings to the interfacing computer system via a network; 
 configuring audio circuitry of the interfacing computer system based on the audio settings to provide an audio interface between the interfacing computer system and the computer management module; 
 capturing audio data responsive to software or hardware events occurring on the remote computer system; 
 transmitting the audio data from the remote computer system to the interfacing computer system; 
 processing the audio data via the audio circuitry based on the audio settings of the remote computer system to produce substantially identically sounds originating at the remote computer system; and 
 converting the audio data to an analog signal at the interfacing computer system: 
 
 graphically interfacing with the computer management module disposed on the remote computer system from the interfacing computer system via the network to enable user management via the computer management module in response to the software or hardware events. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting audio settings of the remote computer system comprises detecting settings of audio input/output registers. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting audio settings of the remote computer system comprises detecting settings of sound synthesis registers. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting audio settings of the remote computer system comprises detecting sound tables. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , comprising copying audio settings corresponding to sound synthesizer registers and sound tables. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein configuring audio circuitry comprises:
 programming registers of the audio circuitry to at least partially match register settings of the remote computer system; and 
 storing sound tables of the remote computer system at the interfacing computer system. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 capturing an audio command generated at the remote computer system; 
 transmitting the audio command to the interfacing computer system; and 
 processing the audio command via the audio circuitry based on the audio settings of the remote computer system. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , comprising playing the audio data at the interfacing computer system for a remote event occurring on the remote computer system. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , comprising transmitting sound data in both directions between the remote computer system and the interfacing computer system. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computer management module comprises software, hardware, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , comprising transmitting voice audio data from the interfacing computer system to the remote computer system to control the management module via voice recognition software. 
     
     
       12. A method for providing sound between a remote computer system and an interfacing computer system, comprising:
 detecting audio settings of a remote computer system; 
 transmitting the audio settings to the interfacing computer system via a network; 
 configuring audio circuitry of the interfacing computer system based on the audio settings detected on the remote computer system and the interfacing comouter system; 
 detecting audio data generated at the remote computer system in response to a system event; 
 processing and converting the audio data into a desired audio format at the remote computer system; 
 transmitting the audio data to an the interfacing computer system via a the network; 
 interpreting and playing the audio data with the audio circuitry at the interfacing computer system for interaction with the system event with substantially identical sounds at the interfacing computer system relative to the remote computer system; 
 displaying on the interfacing computer system a graphical user interface linked with a computer management module disposed on the remote computer system to enable remote management of the remote computer system in response to the system event; and 
 directing the computer management module on the remote computer system to control the system event from the interfacing computer system. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , comprising:
 detecting video data generated at the remote computer system; 
 transmitting the video data to the interfacing computer system via the network; and 
 displaying the video data at the interfacing computer system. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein detecting audio data comprises capturing audio data directed to audio circuitry of the remote computer system. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , comprising remotely managing the remote computer system via the interfacing computer system. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein remotely managing the remote computer system comprises interacting with a network management module disposed on the remote computer system. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , comprising transmitting voice command data from the interfacing computer system to the remote computer system to enable voice based control of the remote computer system. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the computer management module comprises software, hardware, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       19. A system for interacting with a remote computer system, comprising:
 an audio configuration analysis module adapted to identify and copy audio settings of the remote computer system; 
 an audio configuration setup module adapted to configure audio circuitry of an interfacing computer system based on the audio settings; 
 an audio capturing module adapted to capture audio data responsive to a system event occurring on the remote computer system; 
 a transmission module adapted to transmit the audio data from the remote computer system to the interfacing computer system; 
 a processing module adapted to process the audio data via the audio circuitry based on the audio settings of the remote computer system to produce substantially identical sounds originating at the remote computer system; 
 converter adapted to convert the audio data to an analoa signal at the interfacing comDuter system; 
 a computer management module disposed on the remote computer system and adapted to provide real-time interaction between the remote computer system and the interfacing computer system; and 
 a graphical user interface adapted to link the interfacing computer system with the computer management module disposed on the remote computer system, wherein the graphical user interface includes functions to respond to the system event indicated by sound originating on the remote computer system and emulated on the interfacing computer system. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the audio settings comprise register settings of audio registers for the remote computer system. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the audio settings comprise sound card access addresses for the remote computer system. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the audio settings comprise sound tables for sound synthesis at the remote computer system. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the remote computer system comprises a lights out management module for managing network resources. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the remote computer system and the interfacing computer system both comprise sound synthesis registers and sound tables. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 24 , wherein the audio configuration analysis module and the audio configuration setup module are adapted to emulate interaction between the remote computer system and audio circuitry of the remote computer system. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the computer management module comprises software, hardware, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the computer management module comprises a voice recognition application adapted to receive voice audio data from the interfacing computer system and respond to voice commands receives via a voice audio data. 
     
     
       28. A method for providing sound from a remote computer system to an interfacing computer system, comprising:
 detecting audio settings of the remote computer system; 
 transmitting the audio settings to the interfacing computer system via a network, wherein the interfacing computer system is adapted to:
 configure audio circuitry of the interfacing computer system based on the audio settings to provide an audio interface between the interfacing computer and the remote computer system; 
 
 capturing audio data responsive to software or hardware events occurring on the remote computer system; 
 transmitting the audio data from the remote computer system to the interfacing computer system, wherein the interfacing computer system is adapted to:
 process the audio data via the audio circuitry based on the audio settings of the remote computer system to produce substantially identical sounds originating at the remote computer system on the interfacing computer system; and 
 convert the audio data to an analog signal at the interfacing computer system; and 
 
 providing a graphical interface with a computer management module disposed on the remote computer system to the interfacing computer system via the network to enable user management via the computer management module in response to the software or hardware events. 
 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28 , comprising receiving an interface request at the remote computer system from the interfacing computer system. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 29 , comprising responding to the interface request by at least transmitting the audio settings of the remote computer system to the interfacing computer system via the network.